Irreversible Fungal Canker Disease Threatens Istanbul’s Centuries-Old Plane Trees

 

Irreversible Fungal Canker Disease Threatens Istanbul’s Centuries-Old Plane Trees

Environmental scientists and municipal forestry teams in Istanbul are working to address the spread of Ceratocystis platani, a fatal fungal pathogen causing plane tree canker across the city's historic avenues and palace gardens. The disease causes severe structural decay, leading to the drying up and death of centuries-old sycamore trees.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has conducted sanitation cuttings of dead specimens, particularly near historic sites such as Dolmabahçe Palace, to mitigate pedestrian safety hazards and suppress fungal spore dispersal. Experts note that because the pathogen persists in surrounding soil and root systems, urban replanting strategies face ongoing ecological challenges.

Source Link: Bianet News Article

 

Agricultural Harvest and High Heat Trigger Giant Grasshopper Swarms Across Istanbul Districts

Residents across several Istanbul districts—including Arnavutköy, Sultanbeyli, Beykoz, and Maltepe—have reported an influx of giant grasshopper species. The surge in insect populations has led many householders to keep windows shut, particularly during evening hours when artificial lighting attracts the insects.

According to official assessments and entomologists:

• Contributing Factors: The swarm is driven by a combination of high summer temperatures and ongoing agricultural harvesting activities in the neighboring Thrace region, which pushes insects into urban green spaces.

• Identified Species: The swarms consist primarily of Saga ephippigera and the Egyptian grasshopper (Anacridium aegyptium), with some specimens measuring up to 20 centimeters in length.

• Ecological Advisory: Experts emphasize that these grasshopper species pose no biological threat to humans and advise against extermination measures in order to maintain regional ecological balance.

News Source:

• Giant grasshoppers swarm several Istanbul districts - Hürriyet Daily News